About Me

I'm Jake Johnson and installing a pool in my home was not easy. First, I had to make the decision. I live alone since my wife died a few years ago, and it seemed rather frivolous to spend money on a pool. I'm not old, but age was a bit of a factor. It seemed almost irresponsible and childish to want a pool at my age. After I committed, I had to find the right contractor. With so many variables (price, time, personality, etc.), it was a lot harder than I thought. Next, I had to work with the contractor to find the proper space and size and look. After months of construction, I had my pool, but then I had to learn a lot about the proper care and upkeep. Overall, though, my little foray into construction (even if I didn't do any of the really hard work) was informative and worthwhile!

If you need to replace some of the windows in your home, the biggest buzz word you are going to encounter while shopping for a new window is the term "energy efficient." At its most basic, energy efficient means that the window helps keep heat in your home during the winter and out of your home during the summer time; this should help reduce your energy costs, thus the term energy efficient. Here are a few of the technical terms you need to look for if you want to purchase energy-efficient windows.

#1 Double Or Triple Windows Pane

One of the biggest features of an energy-efficient window is the presence of multiple window panes. Older windows that have single window panes are not considered energy efficient. Most modern windows are now made with at least two or three window panes. Double window panes are the standard for most new home builds due to their energy-efficient rating and affordability.

If you want to increase the energy efficiency of your windows even more, you can go with triple-pane windows. Be aware that you will pay more for this upgrade. Triple-pane windows will help keep your home warmer in the winter, and they also cut down on the environmental noise you'll hear inside of your home.

#2 Low Emission Glass

Windows are made with different types of glass. When shopping for energy-efficient windows, you want to purchase windows that are made with low-emission glass. This type of glass has a metallic coating ingrained into the glass.

This metallic coating takes the radiant heating in your home and reflects it back inward to your house. The metallic coating helps keep your home warm during the winter and helps prevent solar heat from getting into your home in the summer.

#3 Krypton Or Argon Gas

Finally, when you purchase a window that is composed of more than a single pane of glass, there has to be something holding the panes of glass together. In the space in between each pane of glass, gas fills up the space. The type of gas used in between each pane of glass can have an impact on the energy efficiency of your windows.

Both krypton and argon gas increase the energy efficiency of a window. These two types of gases should help reduce the heat that is lost by your windows.

These are just the three main terms that will help you identify an energy-efficient window from a non-energy-efficient window. However, knowing these terms should help you identify which windows will fit your needs. Contact a home window replacement expert for more information.